The candidates for the summer retreat to the mountain villa were not something the harem women needed to fight over. After all, Xiao Qianming only had a little over ten concubines at the moment.
Soon, apart from Jiang Daying who was under confinement, all the others boarded the carriages, setting out on the journey to the villa.
Because of her lower rank, Zheng Qingling was assigned to share a carriage with Attendant Kong. The two had no prior friendship, so they remained silent the entire way.
In truth, the women of the harem were both jealous and resentful of Zheng Qingling. After all, the emperor spent a few days with her every month. If not for the fact that she had yet to conceive, she would already be everyone's fiercest rival.
Attendant Kong secretly studied Zheng Qingling's every word and gesture along the journey, planning to learn her ways to win even a shred of the emperor's favor.
But Zheng Qingling had long noticed her scrutiny. When she probed the woman's thoughts, she could only find it laughable.
To tell the truth, the straightforward, careless-beauty persona she displayed outside was only a mask. In private with the emperor, she was the complete opposite.
If such a survival strategy could be copied so easily, then she might as well consider her life over.
Half a month later, the group finally arrived at the mountain villa. Zheng Qingling was assigned to a refreshing pavilion called Tinglan Xiaoxie.
The moment she saw the place, she liked it—it lacked the stifling palace walls, the pavilion was spacious, and the courtyard had rockeries, ponds, and rare flowers…
The only thing she disliked was a newly assigned maid. One glance at the girl's shifty eyes told Zheng Qingling she was not honest.
Since the carriages had limited space, Zheng Qingling had only brought Chunxiu with her this time.
A sweep of her spiritual sense confirmed it—the maid actually harbored the audacity to use her as a stepping stone to climb into the emperor's bed.
If the girl succeeded, Zheng Qingling's reputation would be ruined, and she would become the laughingstock of the entire palace.
Since she had already discovered the threat, she swiftly eliminated it. She began by sending the girl nightmares every night, then took advantage of a courtyard stroll to sprinkle disfiguring powder on her clothes.
The result soon appeared: the maid's face broke out in rashes, and when she recovered, her face was pitted with scars.
Zheng Qingling didn't dismiss her. If another scheming creature was sent to replace her, it would only be more trouble.
After arriving at the villa, Xiao Qianming began frequenting the harem again. Whenever Zheng Qingling was with him, the two were always in sync.
After all, there was only one man in the palace to share a bed with, and with the cool summer retreat, their nightly "battles" were quite harmonious.
One morning, Zheng Qingling looked at the sky and panicked—she was late to pay her respects.
All because Xiao Qianming had kept her up far too late last night. She had only woken after Chunxiu called her several times.
When she entered the Noble Consort's quarters, all the concubines were watching her with gloating expressions. The Noble Consort's glare practically shot flames.
Before Zheng Qingling could even greet her, the Noble Consort attacked first:
"Attendant Rou is becoming more and more unruly. Now you even dare to be late in your morning respects. You clearly do not place me, the Noble Consort, in your eyes!"
Zheng Qingling knew she had indeed been caught in the wrong and dared not argue. She could only bow respectfully and admit her mistake:
"This concubine was at fault. I beg Your Highness to punish me."
The Noble Consort had meant to provoke her into defiance, so she could punish her more harshly. But this fox-spirit admitted fault so quickly that the Noble Consort was momentarily left without words.
Virtuous Consort gave a gentle smile, as if mediating:
"Sister Noble Consort, don't be too hard on Attendant Rou. His Majesty rested with her last night. Waking late is only natural."
Hearing such a "helpful" remark, Zheng Qingling's heart sank.
As expected, veins bulged on the Noble Consort's forehead. Thinking of how she had slept alone last night while her beloved cousin enjoyed another woman's embrace, her fury burned even hotter.
She flung a teacup straight at Zheng Qingling's forehead. Zheng Qingling dodged in time, and when the Noble Consort failed to mar that alluring face, her eyes grew even darker.
"Attendant Rou, spoiled and arrogant, defying palace rules and disrespecting your superior—kneel in the courtyard for two hours!"
The high-ranking concubines lowered their eyes, concealing the corners of their lips that had curled in satisfaction.
Indeed, how could they not rejoice at seeing the emperor's favorite punished?
Zheng Qingling was taken to an open space without shade. Under the sun that grew fiercer by the minute, Eunuch Fu smirked:
"Little mistress, this is the spot I carefully selected for you. Don't worry—with me here, the two hours will pass quickly."
Afterward, he even twisted his wrist effeminately, casting her a contemptuous glance.
Two hours—equivalent to four modern hours. The Noble Consort was truly "merciful."
Now even a eunuch dared to lord over her. "Keeping her company" was just surveillance, plain and simple.
Thinking of how the Noble Consort had almost ruined her face earlier, Zheng Qingling's resolve hardened.
Since the mistress was punished, Chunxiu also knelt beside her.
The ground radiated waves of heat. Zheng Qingling, unwilling to suffer, used her ability to cast the servants into an illusion, then quickly swallowed a false pregnancy pill.
This pill had been crafted in the cultivation world. Once taken, with a push of her spiritual power, it would simulate a miscarriage—though in reality, it simply used up her next two months' menstrual blood to create the illusion.
Since the Noble Consort pressed her step by step, Zheng Qingling decided to make her the scapegoat.
Soon, everyone saw Zheng Qingling collapse to the ground.
Eunuch Fu sneered:
"Such tricks? I've seen plenty. Xiaoluzi, fetch water to wake her."
The young eunuch from the Noble Consort's palace, accustomed to such orders, could only obey. After all, their mistress was the Noble Consort, second only to the Empress.
A bucket of water was poured over Zheng Qingling's head. Chunxiu tried to stop them but was pinned down by another eunuch.
Yet even drenched, Zheng Qingling did not wake. Looking closer, Xiaoluzi saw the water pooling beneath her, stained with blood, spreading across the ground. He turned pale with fright.
"T-this is bad! Eunuch Fu, the little mistress—she's bleeding heavily!"
Eunuch Fu's face darkened, his body stiffening. He muttered, "Impossible… you must be mistaken."
But when he shoved Xiaoluzi aside and saw the bloody water himself, he collapsed to the ground, his former arrogance gone.
Soon, word reached Eunuch Yuan, who rushed to report:
"Your Majesty, terrible news—after being punished by the Noble Consort, Attendant Rou has miscarried…"
Xiao Qianming, who had been reviewing memorials, was about to scold Yuan for his lack of decorum. But upon hearing the thunderbolt of news, he leapt to his feet and rushed toward Tinglan Xiaoxie in panic.